Blockbusting Wallaby No 8 Toutai Kefu has given the Australian Rugby Union until the end of the week to agree to a new contract or the 27-year-old will head to Japan to play out the rest of his career.

Kefu, voted Australia's best player during the just completed European tour, has been offered what is believed to be multi-million dollar contracts with at least three Japanese clubs.

The ARU will be loath to lose Kefu ahead of the 2003 World Cup, but that is now a distinct possibility after six weeks of stalled negotiations. His management team wants the whole issue resolved one way or the other by next Saturday.

"I would have liked to have had it settled before we went on tour, but there were a couple of circumstances - like what effect September 11 would have on the tour - that they needed to consider first," Kefu told The Sunday-Mail newspaper in Brisbane.

"I spoke to Jeff this week and I said I want it done this week, basically. I just want it done so I can start to plan out my future. I probably only have three or four years left in rugby. It would be nice to know I can lay down some plans, not only for myself but for my family."

Despite Kefu's frustration with the ARU, he said he was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt as long as the new contract is forthcoming in the next few days. "I realise and understand they have had a few excuses that may have delayed their decision."

Kefu said the chance to play with his brother Steve at the next World Cup was still an incentive to stay and play on with the Wallabies for another two seasons.

"But I really am evenly weighed each way about what to do," he said. "I mean, the run I've had with the Wallabies has been unbelievable. The only carrot keeping me here is to play in a World Cup in Australia. But I wouldn't stay just because it is in Australia.

"The financial situation is what makes Japan a more attractive alternative than, say, England or France. Moving to Japan is probably more daunting for my family than myself."